International Football History and Statistics

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On this day in football history

1890 England fielded two sides on the same day, against Wales (winning 3-1) in Wrexham, and against Ireland (winning 9-1)in Belfast.

1892 Liverpool founded. Most people connected with the Everton club had left Anfield due to a rent dispute and moved to Goodison. The few remaining formed the Liverpool club which was elected to the Second Division in 1893.

1920 Billy Meredith one of the "outcasts" and founder member of the PFA becomes the oldest player to represent one of the home nations in a full international when he plays for Wales against England at Highbury in a famous 2-1 win.

1929 Tottenham Hotspur signed centre-forward Eddie Harper from Sheffield Wednesday. While playing for Blackburn Rovers in the 1925-26 season he had become the first player to score over 40 goals in a League season with a League tally of 43. Played for Blackburn 1924-28, Wednesday 1928-29, Spurs 1929-31, Preston North End 1931-33 and Blackbur again until he retired in 1935. In 327 League games he scored 263 goals and played for England against Scotland in 1926. He set seasonal scoring records at Blackburn, Spurs and Preston.

1941 Bob Crompton died at the age of 66. He was undoubtedly the greatest right-back of the era preceding the First War and one of the greatest of all time. Although the records he set have now been bettered they were nonetheless remarkable for the time in which they were set. Signed for Blackburn Rovers in September 1896 and remained on their books until May 1920; the second longest continual stay at one club in League history. Played his first of some 400 League games at Stoke in April 1897 and his last at Bradford in February 1920. He led Rovers to two League Championships in 1912 and 1914 and played for England 42 times between 1902 and 1914 (34 in the Home Championship).

1947 Neil McBain, New Brighton manager, played in goal in the Third Division North fixture against Hartlepools United at the age of 52 years and 3 months. This made him the oldest player ever to figure in a League match. A fine half-back in his real playing days he made about 400 Scottish and English League appearances between 1917 and 1931 playing for Ayr United, Manchester United, Everton, St Johnstone, Liverpool and Watford. He was also capped three times for Scotland between 1922 and 1923.

1990 Colin Addison former Derby County manager returns to Spain to manage Cadiz. He had been at Atletico Madrid previously. Terry Yorath returns to manage Swansea after leaving Bradford City.